Behavioral Economic Interventions at Food Pantries

Experimental: Order

The investigators arrange the placement of the targeted good to see if the order affects selection.

Conductual: Order

In the order intervention, the investigators place the targeted product at the front of the line for the treatment. For the control, the investigators place the targeted product at the end of the line.

Experimental: Packaging

The investigators adjust the packaging of the targeted good to determine the effects on selection.

Conductual: Packaging

In the packaging intervention, the investigator present the targeted product in the original package. In the control, the investigator repackage the targeted product in clear, plastic bags.

Experimental: Pricing

In food pantries, few products are priced. The investigators use pricing of products to determine its effect on selection.

Conductual: Pricing

In the pricing intervention, the investigators price all or targeted products in the treatment. In the control, the investigators do not price the products.

Experimental: Relative Proportions

The investigators adjust the proportion of the products to determine the effect on the selection of the targeted product.

Conductual: Relative Proportions

The investigators adjust the amount of the targeted good available relative to the other products. In the treatment, the targeted good is a larger proportion of the total goods offered in the section, while in the control the shares of the targeted and other goods are equal.

Experimental: Default Option

The investigators provide a targeted product to subjects at one point. Later, investigators offer subjects the possibility to exchange the targeted product for a close substitute.

Conductual: Default Option

In an early site, the investigators offer a targeted product without an alternative. The subjects can accept or reject the offer. The subjects are told that an alternative product is available later. At the site where the alternative product is available, investigators offer subjects the opportunity to exchanged the targeted product for the alternative product.

Number of Targeted Products Selected Relative to Others

As subjects choose products from sections of the food pantry, the investigators observe the selection of the targeted product among the other products available. If the targeted product is selected the investigators denote it with a one and zero otherwise. The investigators average the outcome over five and 10 subjects. The investigators also use probit and logistic models to estimate the probability of uptake.